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Looking for some of the best new hybrid SUVs on the market this year? The Honda CR-V Hybrid, Kia Niro PHEV, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, and Toyota Highlander Hybrid made the list. What did Consumer Reports think about these options? Most of them scored fairly well.

Is the Honda CR-V Hybrid worth it?

The Honda CR-V Hybrid is a Consumer Reports pick
The Honda CR-V Hybrid compact crossover SUV is a Consumer Reports pick | Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images

Autoblog put together a list of a few new hybrid SUVs on the market. The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid gets 38 mpg combined in the all-wheel-drive option. The CR-V has a ton of cargo area and is highly rated by brands like Consumer Reports. The CR-V received an overall score of 82. On the list of compact sport utility vehicles, this SUV ranked at number three overall. The predicted reliability came in at a four out of five, which is still an excellent score.

The CR-V has many standard safety features like forward collision warning, emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and lane departure. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the SUV five out of five stars for the overall crash, frontal crash, and side crash ratings. The hybrid engine is torquey enough and checks all the boxes drivers might want. The Hybrid EX starts at $30,560.

Is there a 2021 Kia Niro PHEV?

The Kia Niro and Kia Niro PHEV are both small in stature and price. The Niro Hybrid starts at $24,690, while the plug-in hybrid starts at $29,590. The Niro electric vehicle starts at $39,090. The hybrid combined fuel economy is between 49 mpg and 43 mpg. The Niro plug-in gets from 0-26 miles all-electric range and 105 MPGe (Combined).

It has some user-friendly infotainment systems, but it is a pretty compact SUV. So if buyers are looking for a lot of room, this might not be big enough. However, the price point gets you a lot further for less cash. Consumer Reports gave the Niro a score of 62 and was picked as a Green Choice.

Which is better, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid or RAV4 Prime?

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid starts at $38,800, and the RAV4 Prime starts at $38,250. For the hybrid combined fuel economy, it gets 40 mpg. The plug-in hybrid electric range is 42 miles, and the fuel economy is 94 MPGe. Compared to the Niro, the RAV4 has a lot more room.

Being that it is a Toyota, the resale value and reliability are pretty great. CR gave it a 69 overall and a 72 on the road test. It also came in ninth out of 24 compact SUVs. The interior is well built, and the RAV4 has a variety of trim levels and styles. Overall, the RAV4 is an option buyer shouldn’t overlook.

Is it worth buying a Toyota Highlander Hybrid?

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has the best fuel economy for a three-row crossover SUV. The inside is upscale and has room in the cargo area, but the third-row is tight. It gets 35 mpg with the all-wheel-drive option and is priced at $38,735. Compared to some similar SUVs like the Kia Telluride, the Highlander is smaller but gets about 14 mpg better.

The price for the hybrid is less than $1,500 more than the regular Highlander, too. Whatever the case, the same reliability from Toyota is packed in this option like the RAV4. CR scored the Highlander fairly high with an 84 overall. The road test scored a pretty impressive 86. It was third out of 15 on the list of midsized SUVs with three rows.

These options blend the reliability of the gasoline options with the fuel economy of hybrids. Though some of the SUVs on the list might cost a little extra, it will pay for itself fairly quickly.

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